Mostly Autumn - Bilston Review

It was often the case that The Quireboys were the final band I saw live each year. For a few years that happened - but more recently that crown has been given to Mostly Autumn. Whilst the York-based progressive rock act are certainly less focused on playing live than they once were, they can be relied on to deliver a handful of big Christmas shows each December. They usually take a trip abroad for a few shows in Europe, before returning to a handful of tried and trusted UK venues to close out the year - one of which being The Robin 2 in Bilston. The venue has long been something of a second home for the band - and Mostly Autumn often visit it twice a year, once earlier in the year around some other shows and once as part of their customary Christmas tour. I have seen the band at the venue a few times over the years, both in the summer and at Christmas time. Mostly Autumn's Christmas shows are always something special, and I wish I could get to one every year, but sadly that is not always possible. It has become more possible of late, though, and last year I headed up to the West Midlands on the weekend before Christmas to catch the band in Bilston - and I did exactly the same this year. I tied in seeing the current up-and-coming darlings of the hard rock scene Jayler in Wolverhampton the night before this time, so I had a proper weekend in the Black Country, but the main event was always going to be Mostly Autumn's end of year show. Despite having seen the band many, many times, a Mostly Autumn show is always something special. I have never really been disappointed by the band live, even if, looking back, there have been some periods which were less fiery than others, and the band's Christmas shows have often been big highlights when it comes to looking back at the list of their shows I have been to. That series of special shows in Leamington Spa from a decade or so ago aside, many of my favourite live experiences seeing the band have taken place near to Christmas. The band just seem extra fired up around Christmas time, and they play for a long time even by their standards - playing a full set and then throwing in some Christmas cheer at the end. It always helps when a new album is being promoted, too, and with the band still giving plenty of love to the songs from Seawater (which I reviewed here) the show felt special. I saw the band in Tavistock earlier in the year, so had seen the new songs performed live once - but I was looking forward to hearing them live again, and the band always seem to pull out all the stops when it comes to shows in Bilston. This show was also something of a personal milestone for me - as it was my 50th time seeing the band live. Whilst I am sure that this pales in comparison to some totals, it feels like a notable milestone none the less. Whilst Mostly Autumn are one of my favourite bands, I like a vast amount of music - and always try and see as many different bands live as I can. Mostly Autumn have often just made it easy to see them live over the years - given their regular visits to the South West, as well as their yearly slot at the Cambridge Rock Festival during the years I was regularly going to it. I have often made an effort to get to the band's bigger and more event-like shows, too, so gigs can really rack up over a 19 year period. Mostly Autumn were the first proper band I ever saw live back in 2006 - and they essentially kick-started this lifestyle I now lead. There will be many more to come I am sure, even though I sadly will not be able to make the band's yearly trip to Tavistock next year - due to a date in London with none other than Metallica.

As is generally the case with the band's gigs, the show was split into two sets. The Robin 2 has started opening earlier on a Sunday, too, so the band hit the stage at bang on 5pm. This was the case last year, too, and it meant that I was at the bus stop at around 8:10pm - which was actually quite welcome. The setlist was largely the same as the one played earlier in the year, apart from the Christmas additions, but there were a couple of changes - and things moved around somewhat. Thankfully, all of the eight new songs played then were also played this time - and the show kicked off with the lengthy Let's Take a Walk. The slow-burning song may seem like a strange one to open a show with, especially given that Bryan Josh (vocals/guitar) opened the show by singing along to the song's atmospheric intro before the rest of the band join in, but it works well in my opinion - and when the band crashed in after the first chorus the show really felt like it was underway. Gorgeous harmony vocals from frontwoman Olivia Sparnenn-Josh, a couple of big guitar solos, and plenty of Hammond organ from keyboard player Iain Jennings made the song really tick - and when Henry Rogers (drums) transitioned from its climax to the busy intro to In for the Bite the energy levels rose. This song returned to the set having missed out earlier in the year - and the spiralling guitar melody with Sparnenn-Josh's haunting vocals ensured that a harder rock vibe kicked in following the sprawling opener. There was quite a bit of punch throughout the first set in general I thought. There was downtime, but when the retro hard rock of Winter Dreaming, with a big organ solo from Jennings, and the more symphonic Western Skies are played back-to-back the energy levels are going to rise further. Western Skies may start slowly, with multi-instrumentalist Angela Gordon's flute melodies, but by the time it closes it has morphed into a dramatic symphonic monster which always works well live. Even the folky Why Do We Remember All the Rain, a real throwback to the band's early days from the new album, seemed to hit hard - with Sparnenn-Josh delivering the rocked up folky number with real warmth. Again, plenty of organ helped the song to shine - whilst the jig-like closing section, with Gordon's instrumentation, really sounds like the band of the 1990s. Future Is a Child has already become my favourite song from the new album, and it deserves to be a setlist staple for a long time. It has everything that makes for a great Mostly Autumn song, with a powerful chorus, strong emotions, folky moments, and a lengthy guitar solo - and hearing it live again was a real treat. I hope that the band keep playing it live for a long time - and it felt fitting that a returning Passengers followed it to allow for a little bit of a breather. The older ballad has always been a great addition to any Mostly Autumn set, and the lighter touch allowed for a moment of reflection following the majesty of the previous song. Chris Johnson's (vocals/guitar) first showcase moment then came with his stunning Silver Glass - with Gordon playing the opening synth melody on the flute this time, which I am not sure I recall happening before. This change worked well, though, and the song was as powerful as ever - with Josh's big guitar solo an emotive moment. The first set came to an end with the epic The Night Sky, an oldie which has been showcased quite a bit over the past couple of years. The Pink Floyd-esque track is very different from where the band are now, but Jennings' synth melody, the dual vocals of Josh and Sparnenn-Josh, and the wintry atmosphere make the song a real live favourite of mine - with the lengthy flute/guitar instrumental closing section bringing the first hour of music to a magical close.

Following a 20 or so minute interval, during which I caught up with some friends I had not seen for a good while, the band trooped back on stage - and the semi-industrial intro of the instrumental piece Distant Train filled the venue. Until this year the song had been absent from the set for quite a while - but it has been fun hearing Gordon play those playful flute melodies against the hard rock of the programmed drums again. When the song kicks in properly, too, with real drums and Josh's big guitar riffing, the song always ups the energy of any Mostly Autumn show - and it appropriately morphed into Answer the Question, with Sparnenn-Josh taking the stage again for a hooky chorus. Jennings' closing piano solo is always a treat, too, and the second set got off to an old-school start - before a suite of three new songs followed. My Home and Be Something feel like two of the simpler songs from the new album, but the latter in particular works well live with its up-tempo vibe, plentiful acoustic guitar from Johnson, and its simple overall hook. If Only for a Day was the highlight of this little suite, though, and it is the latest in a line of slow-burning Sparnenn-Josh-led ballads. From its simple piano beginnings, the song moves through the gears around her vocals - and she sounded really powerful here, her vocals cutting through the mix nicely. An emotive guitar solo capped it off nicely - and I feel that the song is likely to become another setlist regular given that some of the band's other similar pieces have been retired recently. With the exception of one other song, the rest of the set was made up of relatively older pieces. Back in These Arms, the only song representing the previous album still in the set, remains a powerful live anthem - with the opening droning synths, later folky melodies, and the dual vocal approach allowing for some tight harmonies making for a strong song. I like the way that Josh always really goes for it during the chorus, too, given the song a harder rock edge. The poppier Into the Stars and Johnson's alt rocker Changing Lives followed, with the latter being a highlight as it tends to be. The shimmering piece works well live, and the closing wordless vocal section attracted something of a sing-a-long from the decent-sized crowd. The final new song, When We Ran, is fast becoming another big favourite of mine - and the live version felt a bit tighter due to the slower intro being left out. Lyrically it is great, and it is one of those nostalgic songs that the band write occasionally that references older melodies - with that familiar flute motif which has been used a handful of times appearing at the end. The main set then came to a close with the epic White Rainbow, also without its intro interestingly this time, and it was as good as ever - especially the mid-song symphonic rock workout. The acoustic-led closing section always feels good live, too, and it was stretched out a bit more this time with a more soloing. Following a brief step off the stage, a five-song encore followed. The ever-present Heroes Never Die was of course played, with Josh delivering a fiery closing solo as always, before the more plaintive Tonight saw a last powerful vocal from Sparnenn-Josh and allowed Josh to introduce the band. The Christmas frivolities followed, with three classic tracks brought to life by the band. Josh sung the relatively dark I Believe in Father Christmas, before Johnson led A Spaceman Came Travelling - which again led to a bit of a sing-a-long of the wordless chorus. The near three hours of music played at this point was then brought to a close with an elongated version of Fairytale of New York - with Josh joking around with the band during the slow-burning intro, before Gordon shone by bringing to life all the folky melodies. The setlist was:

Let's Take a Walk

In for the Bite [Bryan Josh solo material]

Winter Dreaming

Western Skies

Why Do We Remember All the Rain

Future Is a Child

Passengers

Silver Glass

The Night Sky

-

Distant Train

Answer the Question

My Home

Be Something

If Only for a Day

Back in These Arms

Into the Stars

Changing Lives

When We Ran

White Rainbow

-

Heroes Never Die

Tonight

I Believe in Father Christmas [Greg Lake cover]

A Spaceman Came Travelling [Chris de Burgh cover]

Fairytale of New York [The Pogues cover]

Mostly Autumn shows are always great - and this one was no different. It being my 50th made it a little bit more special - but in truth I was just happy to be seeing one of my very favourite bands again. Given that I will be missing the Tavistock show next year, I will have to make it back to The Robin 2 at least once next year - and maybe I will have to try and see the band somewhere different. I have always wanted to go and see them in their hometown of York - so maybe 2026 will be the year that happens.